Top Money winners through 1920

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by pointman

The anti-gambling sentiment in the U.S. caused a drop of the number of race tracks in the U.S. from 314 in 1890 to 25 in 1908. This likely explains the drop in purses.

It's also clear that the drop in purse money led to horses being campaigned MUCH harder.

Here is a horse named Jack Atkin ...

Leading 4yo's by money won in 1908:




Jack Atkin won 14 of 26 races with 8 second place finishes -- including wins in the Met Mile and Carter Handicap. He was a clear 2nd in purse money won behind Ballot (who was the dam sire of Calumet's legendary sire Bull Lea)


The next two years -- Jack Atkin was the leading money winner among older horses both times.




Winning 13 or more races for three straight years and being among the very top in purses won -- he must have been a very sound and tough quality horse.